The clock is TICKING! Welcome to DraftKings Network’s live coverage of the 2025 NFL Draft: your one-stop shop for pick-by-pick grades, analysis, detailed betting insight and recaps of the most-bet NFL Draft markets offered on DraftKings Sportbook.
Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off at 8 p.m. ET from Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the Tennessee Titans the first franchise on the clock. We’re here all night with you, analyzing, reacting, and sweating out the bets with anticipation of which player will land where.
2025 NFL Draft Most-Bet Markets on DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook offered numerous odds and markets for the draft, and we’ve already broken down where the money has gone and who bettors are liking here. That being said, as the picks role in, we’ll recap the unofficial results and see which props hit and which missed by a mile.
Here’s a snippet of the most-bet draft markets for tonight:
Number 1 Overall Pick:
NFL DRAFT POSITION SPLITS:
NFL Draft Markets Recap
Now that we have the unofficial results of the first round in the 2025 NFL draft, let’s digest the odds.
Pick No. 1: Tennessee Titans Select: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (-20000): This isn’t a shocker, of course. The Tennessee Titans grabbed their (hopefully) future of the franchise with the first pick, and bettors agreed. 38% of the money for this market went on Ward to go No. 1, with 15% of the bets as well.
One bettor was fearless in their bet, risking $2,000 on Cam Ward to go No. 1 overall at -2000. Don’t stress, though, the bet cashed out:
10:16 !One @DKSportsbook customer is fearless when it comes to laying juice …
— Julian Edlow (@julianedlow) April 25, 2025
This bettor risked $2,000 on Cam Ward to go No. 1 overall at -2000.
The bet cashed for a profit of $10. pic.twitter.com/7TbY35ZlrC
Pick No. 2: Jacksonville Jaguars Select WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado (-1000): Now THIS is where the money was at for Hunter. 50% of the handle and 22% of the bets were for the two-way phenom to go second overall. While the TEAM was unexpected, with Jacksonville jumping up to No. 2 overall, a win is a win is a win.
Pick No. 6: Las Vegas Raiders Select Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State: Ashton Jeanty to land in Chicago (-175) was the most-bet landing spot for the RB by both bets (24%) and handle (36%). Las Vegas, however, owned the 3rd-lowest odds at (+475) on DraftKings Sportsbook, with just 17% of the money on Jeanty to be a Raider.
Pick No. 14: Indianapolis Colts Select Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State: Let’s talk tight ends. Tyler Warren’s Draft Position Prop was set at 9.5, and 71% of the bets were on U9.5. However, the money was split pretty evenly—49% on O9.5 and 51% on U9.5.
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado: Well, after Round 1, Sanders is still on the board. His Draft Position Prop was set at 14.5, and similarly to Warren, most of the bets were on the under… 77% of bets leaned U14.5 while 23% went O14.5. Looks like Sanders’ supporters will have to wait a bit longer.
A handful of days ago, a DKSB customer wagered $2,000 on Sanders to be a top-10 pick at -200:
Just 3 days ago a @DKSportsbook customer wagered $2,000 on Shedeur Sanders to be a top-10 pick at -200.
— Julian Edlow (@julianedlow) April 25, 2025
Sanders is still on the board and the bet is a loser. pic.twitter.com/CGeUnexuNq
Pick No. 8: Carolina Panthers Select Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona: We had some BIG winners tonight! One bettor made the right pick at the buzzer, putting $300 on Tetairoa McMillan to be the No. 8 pick at +1200 today. The bettor profited $3,600.
Check out 2025 NFL Draft Odds on DraftKings Sportsbook: Most-bet NFL Draft Markets
2025 NFL Draft Live Grades and Analysis
Let’s begin with what’s on everyone’s mind: the Shedeur Sanders of it all. Indeed, from the beginning of combine season all the way to Mock Draft Final.0 time, the largest common denominator with regards to what makes the 2025 NFL Draft so, in theory, volatile is the already-legendary progeny of Hall of Fame everything Deion Sanders.
We’re hearing reports from insiders that the Browns are actively listening to all calls for the second-overall pick. Is that Sanders-related? Giants fans are confused as anything—is Abdul Carter the right move if he’s there (yes!)? Or should we entertain reaching for Sanders? And, of course, the ever-unpredictable-but-usually-laughable New England Patriots draft strategy might see them cede the fourth-overall pick to someone who might want to take Shedeur there.
But, indeed, that there’s so much ballyhoo surrounding the Prime wagon is both the most unsurprising storyline and the most interesting one headed into this year’s NFL Draft.
Elsewhere? I’m most interested in where guys like Ashton Jeanty, Tetairoa Mcmillan, Emeka Egbuka, Luther Burden III, Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins, and Bhayshul Tuten go. Which teams are willing to thrill their fan-bases with potential Week 1 starters at the skill-player positions? Burden and Hampton are, in my opinion, wildly undervalued. A team reaching for them is both possible and possibly electric. All of the above names, too, are among my predictions to be legitimate fantasy football contributors for the coming season.
The grading methodology below will speak for itself. In the event it doesn’t, I’ve likely explained it in the analysis. Here’s hoping we all walk away satisfied with the potential franchise-altering picks our teams are pocketing for us tonight. Or, if we don’t? Here’s hoping for some NFL Draft night fireworks like we haven’t seen in years. Primetime!
Pick No. 1: Tennessee Titans
Selection: Cam Ward, QB, Miami – 6’2″, 219lbs, 22 years old
GRADE: A
Analysis
You get an A because you’re a quarterback-desperate team in the draft with the first overall pick, and you filled that position. Congratulations! Sort of an easy evaluation, here, but Ward is a day-one contributor—and he should be, for this price. But going from the extremely conservative, reined-in quarterback play of Ryan Tannehill to the let’s-see-what-happens-I-guess(!), buck-wild erraticism of Will Levis was far too much whiplash for this RPO-heavy offense. Cam Ward’s profile and pedigree as both playmaker and leader within a similar scheme at Miami make him perfect for Brian Callahan and the Titans as their first 2025 NFL Draft selection.
And that’s not to say Ward can’t sling it. He led all of college football last year in passes that traveled ten-or-more yards in the air, at just over 56%. Ignore the numbers—he’s simply the most talented arm in the 2025 class. Ward’s an aggressive passer who’ll need to adjust to the more complex coverage schemes of the NFL, and his penchant for pushing the ball down the field into tight windows, and doing so with great poise and accuracy, was arguably his most important trait in his one season as a Hurricane. Which, by the way, clocked in to the tune of 4,313 passing yards, a 39-to-7 TD-to-INT ratio—both Miami records—and a fourth-place finish in the Heisman race.
Watch his tape, and you’ll see that there are footwork issues. Aren’t there always before the pro level? Still, it’s a legitimate knock. If a quarterback’s connection with his pass catchers is a series of nonverbal conversations, Ward is prone to going off on some nonverbal tangents. He strays. He dominates the airtime a little bit too much, gets interrupty. That’s fine. Even the most poised athletes get overexcited, and that’s something for which Ward will need to discover discipline. Shouldn’t be hard in Tennessee, where it feels like the saddle is strapped pretty tight between scheme and the quarterback executing it.
I could pick nits, here, and give Tennessee an A-. Abdul Carter is the best prospect in this draft, and a sapphire-blue chip over which they’re passing for positional need. Could say the same of Travis Hunter. But I think it’d be a bit cruel—unfair, at least—to punish a quarterback-needy team for taking a quarterback with their first overall pick. Especially because, by all accounts, Cam Ward’s intangibles—formal interviews, film sessions, coach meetings, etc.—arguably elevate his legacy-level potential as a franchise keystone to blue-chip level, anyways.
It’s a solid if utterly predictable A.
Player comparisons: Ben Roethlisberger
Pick No. 2: Jacksonville Jaguars – TRADE ALERT!
ESPN Sources:
🏈Browns are trading the No. 2 overall pick, a fourth-round pick (No. 104), and a sixth-round pick (No. 200) to the Jaguars.
🏈Jaguars are trading the No. 5 overall pick, a second-round pick (No. 36), a fourth-round pick (No. 126) and their 2026 first-round pick… pic.twitter.com/9J3QPHqhhU
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 25, 2025
Jacksonville Jaguars have this pick by way of trade with Cleveland Browns: Cleveland traded 2025 fifth overall pick, 2025 second and fourth round picks, 2026 first round pick; Jacksonville receives 2025 second overall pick, 2025 fourth round pick, 2025 sixth round pick
Selection: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado – 6’0″, 188lbs, 22 years old
GRADE: A+
Analysis
Travis Hunter played over 100 snaps of football per game for 84.6% of his collegiate career as a player. Of course, that’s both between his role as a wide receiver and as a cornerback, but I’d like to kick off this analysis by having us all take a beat to respect what a Ferrari this kid is. What a genuinely joyous addition to the NFL. If I were just grading him, my “+” key would have broken. Luckily, I only needed to punch it once, here.
Hunter’s coming from the Sanders-era Buffaloes, so there’s magnified and embellished skepticism about his fit in a professional locker room. Stop that. Take a walk with it. I want nothing to do with it, please. However! I’ll listen to those who will say his production profile as a receiver should give us pause—for a second.
Stats like his receiving yards per pass attempt (2.61) last season aren’t great—a number that lands him in the 20th percentile among first-round wide receivers since 2011. His yards per route rate (2.51) last season, too, is decidedly unimpressive for a first-round wide receiver, if you look at profiles from the last five years. It’s not even the 25th-best in this class!
But, as with the best athletes on the planet, a lot of the story before the pro level is layered in the advanced metrics: Hunter’s success rate against man schemes is better than those of DeVonta Smith and Chris Olave. His 87.9% success rate vs. zone coverage is absolutely elite, and his 84.4% success rate vs. press is the best all-time among college wideouts who faced press coverage on at least 20+% of their routes. If it’s the case that his skillset blossoms more on the offensive side of the ball, he’s a true number-one wide receiver. He dropped just one pass in the 11 games during which he played over 100 snaps. He converted 81.8% of his contested targets (he saw them at a rate of 13.1%). He’s a technical wizard at the catchpoint whose explosiveness rivals that of what we see right now in Ja’Marr Chase.
Statistically, according to Pro Football Focus, Hunter ranked 12th in targets (121), 14th in receiving grade (89.0), and second in touchdowns (15) among all college players. What makes him truly unique is his defensive impact—his seventh-ranked PFF defensive grade (88.2) and third-ranked coverage grade (90.3) are borderline sickening for opposing quarterbacks to countenance.
But, right—the two-way thing. Hunter was categorized as a cornerback up until just recently, when he announced his every intention to play offense and defense. All that will create is a small personnel snafu. That would have been different if Cleveland took him. But, major credit to Jim Gladstone and Liam Coen for taking a swing on this absolute stud of a playmaker. It’s why Hunter is a slam-dunk A+ pick. Jags get extra points for being bold enough to go get him.
I spent most of this time evaluating Hunter’s elite profile as a wide receiver, not as a cornerback (15 passes defended, four interceptions for Colorado last year). There’s little-to-no chink in his athletic talent on the defensive side of the ball, either. He’s otherworldly, there is no denying. Where this pick gets a bit tricky (read: fun!) is precisely what makes it so good: in taking Hunter, the Jaguars are drafting someone so athletic that, while they decide how best to utilize him on the roster, he’ll need to balance prioritization of craft and technique such that it keeps up with and controls his super-high-tech-jetfighter physical abilities.
Player Comparisons: Odell Beckham Jr., Chris Godwin, Stefon Diggs, Christian Kirk
Pick No. 3: New York Giants
Selection: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State – 6’4″, 250lbs, 21 years old
GRADE: A+
Analysis
For my money, if you get the best prospect in the draft at No. 3, you get the second A+ of the night. Abdul Carter is generational, and it was critically important the New York Giants not flub this pick by pressuring themselves into a quarterback.
Elephant in the room, quite literally: the Giants do have a looming decision in their now-overcrowded EDGE room with Thibodeaux, the fifth pick in 2022, and solid investment in free-agent signing Brian Burns. There’s a lot more that could happen with Thibodeaux than with Burns. Estimations on a trade return for Thibs range in the third-round pick area. They could exercise his fifth-year option, as well. It’s all on the table, now.
Back to Carter, however, who deserves all the analysis. He brings a unique mix of raw explosiveness and technical finesse. His athletic frame, paired with a burst that rockets him to top speed, makes him a nightmare for opposing linemen. He attacks the corner with the speed of a sprinter and can blow by a blocker’s face with lateral explosiveness that stresses even the most polished tackles. And, well, at the point of contact? Carter doesn’t just engage—he piledrives through with a relentless forward lean and leg drive that overwhelms his assignment. On tape, he mixes a dynamic array of pass-rush moves: ghost rip, inside spin, flash-slap, long-arm bull, and arm-over swims. His body control lets him transition between moves seamlessly, keeping blockers constantly guessing.
He’s a master at controlling the outside wrist of tackles, using it to throw them off balance or toss them aside with ease. Carter’s downhill closing speed makes him a blur as he blitzes through gaps with reckless abandon, creating havoc every time. His ability to read the game is elite—he reads runs and draws with precision, and he’s never afraid to take on double teams to free up his teammates.
Though known for his edge-rushing prowess, Carter’s versatility is undeniable. He’s not just a pass rusher—he’s also comfortable dropping back, covering ground, and reading plays in space. Carter’s resilience is unquestionable; he’s played in all 42 games over the last three seasons, even battling through a busted left shoulder in 2024. His production speaks volumes: 34.6% of his tackles in 2024 came behind the line of scrimmage, proving he’s always a threat in the backfield.
The New York Giants just got the best pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Congratulations, Big Blue!
Player Comparison: Micah Parsons
Pick No. 4: New England Patriots
Selection: Will Campbell, OT, LSU – 6’4″, 319lbs, 21 years old
GRADE: B
Analysis
Is it a little too harsh to take the Patriots out of the A-range just because they lost out on Carter and Hunter? And, in so doing, mercifully secured some blind-side protection for Drake Maye? I believe so—I think Jeanty, Mason Graham, and Jalon Walker are all slightly better prospects than Campbell. Moreover, I think the gap in potential between Campbell and the widely-ranked second-best tackle, Armand Membou, is that huge. Same goes for Kelvin Banks Jr. out of Texas. Campbell a safe pick, but safe picks for the New England Patriots these days aren’t going to move the needle much on a fanbase that’s more sick of its team than it is of losing.
When you think Campbell, think Andrew Whitworth. That’s Hall-of-Fame-caliber! Campbell is on record having said he’s modeled his game after Whitworth, and it shows on tape.
I assume New England is aware of Campbell’s rise in year-over-year false start penalties, full-well knowing that’s something Vrabel’s coaching can straighten right the heck out. The unfortunate weakness, however, is his arm length; it’s going to cause him fits against lengthy edge rushers (like Abdul Carter above) whose lateral quickness and leg-drives are on the same level of great. He makes up for it with uniquely-deft footwork for his size, and this works to his advantage in both the run and passing game. Indeed—Campbell is a guaranteed two-phase lineman who has no problem establishing a pocket, or surging to the defense’s second level.
Still, because of the lack of length, if he whatsoever overextends or loses his feet, even by a microstep, he’s beat. QBP for the defense, simple and clean. As such, Campbell is just barely the best offensive lineman in this class, and the New England Patriots once again leave on the board a freak athlete for another team to take. Say what you want: they should have taken Jeanty, here. A terrifying run game is just as much a buffer for a young quarterback as a solid—but not relatively outstanding—tier-one tackle.
Player Comparison: Andrew Whitworth
Pick No. 5: Cleveland Browns (by way of trade with Jacksonville Jaguars)
Selection: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan – 6’4″, 306, 21 years old
GRADE: B+
Analysis:
Mason Graham was a two-year starter at Michigan, played a pivotal role as a three-technique defensive tackle in Wink Martindale’s four-man front. While his backfield stats may not pop, Graham was arguably the Wolverines’ most valuable defensive player in 2023, and his play only elevated in 2024 with less talent around him.
What an absolute game-wrecker up front. Mason Graham’s thick, powerful frame and low pads give him immediate leverage, bulldozing blockers into the quarterback’s lap. Quick feet and hands let him slice through blockers, wreaking havoc in the backfield. His agility on stunts and loops makes him a nightmare, while his twitchy upper body rips through blockers with push-pulls. Relentless and smart, he reads the game pre-snap and knows how to disrupt. Off the field, he’s low-key, but on the field, he’s an absolute monster, backed by his multi-sport background and raw physicality.
He might need to shed some weight and improve his athleticism, but on the interior with Myles Garrett on the edge, there’s so much reason for optimism here. I had him graded as my fifth-best athlete in the draft, so he gets a B+ for going right here. I could have given the Browns an A- for being bold with the trade, but they’ve yet to get their quarterback. And while Graham is an insanely-talented prospect, the fit here isn’t any more exceptional than anywhere else. No knock on Graham.
Pick No. 6: Las Vegas Raiders
Selection: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State – 5’8″, 211lbs, 21 years old
GRADE: A+
Analysis
Easy A+ for me, especially with no sure-thing franchise signal-caller on the board at all, let alone with Ward gone—not to mention Geno Smith keeping vigil in the wings. Jeanty should have gone to the Patriots. Credit here to the Raiders for being patient and getting their guy, which still leaves them with a bounty of picks. Ashton Jeanty is a dynasty cornerstone in the same way that Marshawn Lynch was to the Seattle Seahawks in the Legion of Boom era. Sounds a lot like he belongs in Oakland.
By all advanced metrics, there is no weakness in this man’s game. His elite vision is somehow wildly apparent on tape, yet one of the most magical intangibles about him. It’s almost as if he sees the holes in the defense, he wills them larger. And should they converge? He repels them. Jeanty averaged 7.0 yards per carry and posted a 94th-percentile College Dominator of 43.7% at Boise State. In 2024, he rushed for 2,595 yards—just under 900 yards more than the second-place finisher. He led the nation in touchdowns (30), yards after contact (1,970), and breakaway yards (1,366). Jeanty forced 163 missed tackles, setting an FBS record for the most in a season over the last decade.
He might enter the NFL as the best pound-for-pound running back when it comes to elusiveness, power, and contact balance. Jeanty has the ability to change a team’s projected win total immediately. He’s that effective. And football fans—fantasy and otherwise—should be utterly galvanized he’s gone to an offensive scheme that should immediately utilize his skillset in full.
Pete Carroll and Geno Smith will know exactly how to maximize Jeanty’s effectiveness in a balanced offensive scheme. Look out, Las Vegas.
Player Comparisons: LaDanian Tomlinson (haven’t you heard?)
Pick No. 7: New York Jets
Selection: Armand Membou
GRADE: B
Analysis:
He’s just about as good as Will Campbell, but what with the pick to the Jets, he might get slid to Guard. That’d be just fine, even though he’ll be a great contributor at right tackle in the NFL. He projects better for me, however, as a guard, and I believe the Jets will use him on the interior. The interior, while a massive problem for the Jets, was not their biggest problem.
There’s a finesse and smooth-cool to Membou’s game that you wouldn’t expect from someone so stout, but with all that ability comes some serious need for technical polish. He overextends his upper body a lot and loses leverage against defenders; something you can’t afford to do on the interior, especially in the AFC East.
There’s impressive balance, here, and it’s much more easily-translatable to the guard position. As mentioned, the Jets will probably slot him there. Which is to say: Membou does have the ability to play different positions. But the Jets don’t need versatility right now. They need stability. Let’s hope they use Membou’s talents to that end.
Player Comparisons: Zach Tom
Pick No. 8: Carolina Panthers
Selection: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona – 6’4″, 213lbs, 22 years old
GRADE: B-
Analysis:
McMillan offers big-play, All-Pro potential with a 6’5″, 210lb size. He racked up 92 career plays of 15-plus yards with 43 missed tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, he is one of just a small handful of receivers with 90.0-plus PFF grades at each level of the field.
However, McMillan does lack the top-end speed of your typical number-one X wide receiver. That’s the big knock on his game. He offsets has superb instincts for finding openings in zone coverage and is a tough runner who will pile up yards after catch. The body control is there, the freak-contested catches ability is there, too. But there’s a lot of Jonathan Mingo to his game, in that the Panthers have seen a little bit before. Mingo was arguably a more impressive physical prospect than Tet, too.
The highest-ranked recruit in Arizona history, McMillian exploded onto the scene with 702 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman in 2022. That was just the start. In 2023, he hauled in 90 passes for 1,402 yards and 10 scores, finishing as a Biletnikoff finalist and First-Team All-American after a dominant 84/1,319/8 campaign. His versatility shines most with his experience running from the slot, making him an immediate threat for this Bryce-Young-led Panthers team. While he lacks elite speed, his instincts for reading zone coverage and his toughness after the catch make him a constant yards-after-contact machine.
I’m not overly thrilled with McMillan here. I liked Walter Nolen or Jalon Walker for Carolina here over a wideout.
Pick No. 9: New Orleans Saints
Selection: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas – 6’4″, 320lbs, 21 years old
GRADE: A-
Analysis:
I love Banks almost as much as the New England Patriots must love Will Campbell. He always played with great leverage, ridiculous feet, and a natural athleticism—collectively a toolset that both Campbell and Membou lack as comprehensively as Banks. This man only allowed four sacks on 1,544 pass-blocking reps. The floor here is sky-high, and he is the best tackle in this class. Most will tell you that title belongs to Campbell, but, in time, they’ll see.
Banks could have gone before Membou and Campbell. He has the better tape and is more consistent. The Saints still don’t have a quarterback, but this is a major win for their offensive stability and consistency—depending on who they get tossing the rock.
The Saints and Banks get an A- grade here, even though it doesn’t fill all their holes. But Sanders awaits in the second round, now; should the Saints get Shedeur and Banks, it’s quite the gymnastic trick.
Pick No. 10: Chicago Bears
Selection: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan – 6’5″, 240lbs, 21 years old
GRADE: C-
Analysis:
Tyler Warren still on the board. What’s going on, here? More analysis to come, but this is quite a reach for Loveland, who I firmly expected to be a Los Angeles Ram come the first snaps of 2025. Brock Bowers Colston Loveland is not, so I don’t understand why the Bears reached for him over Warren, who grades on film and in terms of advanced metrics as a much more complete roster addition than Warren. He’s huge, but still.
Loveland isn’t a great blocker, at least not relative to Tyler Warren, who’s still on the board for this pick. There’s certainly more vertical ability to love in Loveland, but I really don’t think the Bears need more vertical threats in an offense with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. They needed security at the line of scrimmage, and they get plenty in Loveland. They would have gotten far more in Warren.
This one stumps me. You wonder if the Bears thought Banks might fall to them.
Additional Grades for Skill Players Drafted in Round 1
Pick No. 14: Indianapolis Colts
Selection: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State – 6’6″, 256lbs, 23 years old
GRADE: A
Analysis:
What a steal for the Colts, huh? Warren’s frame is perfect for tight end duties, allowing him to accelerate quickly and attack coverage with impressive fluidity for his size. His quick footwork helps him transition seamlessly in and out of breaks, while his exceptional hand-eye coordination allows him to snatch passes mid-air with ease. In 2024, he posted more one-handed grabs than drops, maintaining focus in congested catch points and despite impending contact. Comfortable leaving his feet, he adjusts to off-target throws, high-pointing the ball with flexibility.
Just for the record—I had him off the board at seven overall. The Colts got him 100% later than that. Back to the stats!
After the catch, he’s a tough runner, with 56.2% of his yards coming post-catch, often lowering his pads to power through contact. A dangerous wildcat threat, Warren averaged 8.4 yards per carry in 2024, totaling 218 yards and four touchdowns, while also completing three of six passes for 35 yards, including a 17-yard TD. Fun, right? You bet that’s something to monitor for Colts trick plays.
Warren is, to his delight, known for his blocking. Given the delight bit, there, you shouldn’t be surprised that he models his style after George Kittle, delivering forceful wham blocks and driving his legs in the run game.
We love him for his spirit, his vibe. His, shall I say, aura. Off the field, Warren stays laid-back and avoids social media, but on the field, his competitive edge shines through. Oh, yeah, and his Penn State tight end room nickname? “Psycho T.”
In 2024, Warren became the fourth tight end in FBS history to rack up 104 catches in a season, rarely missing games. He plays through minor injuries with the best of them. He’s a perfect addition to a security-blanket-needy offense in the Indianapolis Colts, and it’s a bit staggering to me that an athlete of his caliber—especially with how that translates to his elite positional grades and film—fell this far. But the Bears will be the Bears.
Pick No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Selection: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State University – 6’6″, 256lbs, 23 years old
GRADE: A-
Analysis:
Egbuka is my favorite receiver in this draft, if not the one I believe to be the most talented. I think even Luther Burden III is slightly better overall, even when considering this Tampa Bay fit, as a prospect.
But it’s hard to ignore the fact that Chris Godwin is getting older, and durability remains the primary concern. Mike Evans just celebrated his eleventh-straight season with 1,000 receiving yards. His time with the NFL will soon come to a close.
And so now they’ve got both Jalen McMillan and Emeka Egbuka as their receivers for the future. More analysis to come on Egbuka with regards to why he represents my favorite receiving pedigree and profile in this draft. But I needed to get a grade out here to congratulate Tampa Bay on this one.
Pick No. 22: Los Angeles Chargers
Selection: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina – 6’0″, 221lbs, 21 years old
GRADE: A+
Analysis:
Thank you to the Harbaugh Era to giving us another absolutely fantastic fantasy football pick in the first round. Hampton’s speed grades so disproportionately well to his size, and his ability as a pass-catcher is such an immediate contribution that we’re talking about a potential Todd Gurley contributor in electric blue.
There is, of course, Najee Harris, but this Chargers offense will have no problem rotating Harris in as the 1B. For there is no doubt that Hampton is way better than 2025 Najee Harris; the only questions about Hampton should be just how elite his production can be from day one.
As far as the passing game goes? His top-season reception share is 17.9%. Thats third among running backs in the 2025 class. He had a prorated total yards per team play rate last season of 2.48—also top three. And, at a stout 221 pounds, he ran 4.46 40- yard dash.
This man’s a wrecking ball in the perfect situation. But an A+, here? Even with the Chargers’ glaring need at pass-catcher?
Yes. I’m firm on this. Hampton was the last remaining talent on the board I believed could be an elite offensive producer wherever he went. The fact that he’s behind this Los Angeles offensive line, and will develop under Jim Harbaugh, makes this a slam-dunk pick.
*whispers* The Chargers do desperately need to address the receiving room urgently, however; part of me thinks they were surprised by the Bears’ Loveland reach.
Pick No. 25: New York Giants (via trade with Houston Texans)
Selection: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss – 6’2″, 221lbs, 21 years old
GRADE: B
Analysis
I might be a little low here, but I really do value Sanders’ tape as a pocket passer almost a full letter grade higher than Dart’s.
Having said that, (and here I’d like to shoutout the wonderful Senior Editor overseeing our Draft coverage tonight, Meghan Townsley, who reminded me of this specific dynamic), Dart is likely a much better fit in New York under the Brian Daboll regime than Sanders would be. Hard not to see the comp between a young Dart and the young Josh Allen fresh out of Wyoming, who Daboll famously helped develop into a young superstar.
And while Dart doesn’t whatsoever have the ceiling of Josh Allen, nor the arm talent—nor anything, really—he’s clearly coachable in a way that made Josh Allen such a success as opposed to risky project. That’s not to say Sanders wouldn’t be! In fact, the only reason I’m focusing on Dart’s coachability is because I believe he’ll need it in this offense where Sanders wouldn’t. Dart’s biggest weakness is identifying and exploiting defensive coverages; Sanders is already elite at that. He would feasibly be more prepared for the exotic looks the NFL will throw at these young quarterbacks than Dart will be.
But how fun is this, man? A quarterback with the verve and confidence of 2023 JJ McCarthy comes to the Big Apple—in a trade, no less, that the Giants really didn’t lose when you talk about the draft capital packaged away to Houston—with the goal of resurrecting a franchise. Dart may, at present, be more of a gunslinger and a maverick than he is a leader and eviscerator of defensive coordinators’ dreams. His career will forever be linked to Sanders’, now, as the Giants made two decisions in selecting Dart and not Sanders.
There is so much reason to be hopeful, here. Lane Kiffin, notoriously one of the most candid coaches around, praised Dart like they were related. The Dart-to-Nabers connection is delicious to think about from both a fantasy football and a highlight perspective. The time to critique Dart’s play any more is for another day. For now, let’s celebrate the Giants going and getting a quarterback in whom they must really believe.
